Focusing mechanism for cameras.



E. c. ALLEN. v FOCU SING MECHANISM FOR CAMERAS.

APPL ICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1914. 1 1,146,837. Patented July 20,

.I E F. H A T E n s 2 m w HT y z 'E. c. ALLEN. rocusms MECHANISM FOR CAMERA;

Arrucm'dn mm mm; 23, 1-914.

Patented July 20,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST C. ALLEN, ROCHESTER, NEW YORILASSIGNOR TO EASTMAN KODAK I I COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

. FOCUSING MECHANISM FOR CAMERAS.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST C. ALLEN, of

. Rochester, in the county of. Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Focusing Mechanism for Cameras; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and

' exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

My present invention, relates to photography and more particularly to photographic cameras, and'it has for its object to provide a simple, effective and convenient focusing device therefor.

The improvements are directed in part to economy in manufacture, ease of assembling and toward providing a quick adjustment that requires little effort and that may be either set for a predetermined focus before the parts are extended or moved to the desired focal position after the controlling focal element has been extended to an approximate position.

To these and other ends the invent on resides. in certain improvements and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings, Figure dis a top plan v1ew of a camera and camera bed provided with a focusing device constructed in accordance with and illustrating one embodiment of my invention, the lens carriage, however, being removed; Fig. 2 is a similar view with a portion of the camera body broken away and with a portion of the leps carriage shown in horizontal-section and 1n operative or extended position; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the camera with the parts in focused positions, the bed being shown in horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section through the bed taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Flg. 5 is a top plan view 'of the base of the lens carriage taken in section on the line 55 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section through the lens carriage and bed with parts in rear thereof omitted taken substantially on the line 6-:6

of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a section through the focusing scale on the line- 7 7 of Fig. 2, and

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section through the bed taken substantially on the line 88 of Fig. 2.

Similar reference numerals throughout.

the several figures indicate the same parts. As is well known, the focusing of a camera 1s sometlmes efiected by moving the camera body; or back carrying the sensitized surface relatively to the lens, and sometimes by movplicable in the last named and more usual arrangement and the invention also shows to best advantage on a camera of the folding type in which the camera bed constitutes a door for closing'the camera body after the collapsible bellows and the lens which is attached thereto are folded inside, and which when extended, constitutes a runway for adjusting the lens on a suitable carriage in inward and outward directions.

'I have therefore illustrated such a camera in the;present instance, and referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates the camera body or casing, 2 the bed and closure or door, 3 the bellows, 4 the lens tube and 5 the lens board or front. 'The camera is shown only in extended or unfoldedposition.

as it is of a well known type. Movable on the main bed '2 within relatively narrow limits is a sliding plate 6 to carry which the cally, on the track plate 11, and at their outer ends to pins 12 on the slide 6, have a normal tendency to hold the latter in a retracted position coincident with the bed, as shown'in Fig. 1, although the slide may be extended against the tension of the springs in the, manner shown in Fig. 2. g

Extending transversely of and beneath the slide 6 is a lever 13 pivoted at 14 to the bed 2 and also passing beneath. a raised index scale or plate 14 having awplurality of openings 15 therein provided with indicating characters 16 representing the various focal distances that are most commonlyused. The lever 13 is of resilient material and the outer endportion thereof is held under ten sion to a sufficient extent to cause to nor- Patented July 20, 1915. Application filed March 23, 1914. Serial No. 826,792. A i

45 position. 1 Conversely, it will also be recogguide blocks 27 on the under side mally press upwardly against the under side of the index platel P which holds a projection 17 thereon in engagement with one or.

another of the openings 15 to lock the lever against movement on its pivot. It terminates, however, beyond the plate 14 in a finger portion 18 by means of which the lever is vibrated and downward pressure'on which permits, by deflection of the lever itself, the disengagement of the projection 17 from a given opening 15 and its reengagement, selectively, with one of the other open-- ings according to the position to which the lever is adjusted. I

Pivoted to the lever 13 at 19 as a fulcrum is the lower arm 20 of a bellcrank lever which lever arm lies beneath the slide 6. The other arm 21 of the lever rests on top of the slide so that it is offset vertically from the arm 20 and the two arms are rigidly connected by a cylindrical stud 22 which oc- 'cupies a transverse slot 23 in the slide plate lever 20-21 through this opening 25 its intermediate stud 22 may be easily run into the slot 23 at 24 and after this is done, the pivot 14 of the lever 13 to which the lever 20-21 has-been previously pivoted at 19, may be fastened in place. The bell crank lever normally occupies approximately the position shown in Fig. 1. in which it. is rocked to the right with its intermediate stud 22 somewhere near the center of the slot 23 and it will beseen that the tendency of the springs 9 acting through the intermediarv' of the slide 6 is to hold it in this nized that vibration of the lever 20-21 on its fulcrum 19 will .cause the slide 6 to be drawn outalo'ng the focal line to such an extent asisg-rpermitted before the stud 22 reaches end of its slot 23.

' and lens board 5 are mounted tifmovable on the slide 6 when nded and engaged with a trackf folded accordin to afi well arrangement. Depen' 'ng riage slidably engage the opposite longitudinaledges of the plate 6 as tracks while above, the carriage is provided at opposite sides with opposed finger pieces 28 by means of which it is manipulated. One of these finger pieces (the left one in Figs. 5 and 6) is fixed or rigid, but the other one is carried ot-shown) in the camera body' 1 when I camera is of the caron a transversely sliding plate 29 having slots 30 that accommodate headed guide pins 31 fixed to the carriage. A spring 32 normally tends to thrust the plate and finger piece outwardly in a direction opposite from the movement naturally engendered by the pressure of the fingers. This sliding plate 29 is provided for a purpose that will hereinafter appear and is to be distinguished from the usual finger piece mechanism of a lens carriage that controls gripping or looking pressure of members corresponding to the members 27 on the slideway. The present members 27 are relatively fixed in themselves allowing a free though, stable sliding movement of the carriage at all times.

Fixed to the under side of the carriage by pins 33 is a triangular plate 34: best shown in Fig. 2, which plate has an inclined or cam-like forward edge surface 35 terminating in a pointed abutment 36. When the camera is unfolded and the carriage 26 is drawn out onto the slide 6, it moves freely relatively to the latter until the plate 34; thereon engages the arm 21 of the bell crank lever. With further outward movement, it swings the latter on its fulcrum 19 from the position of Fig. 1 and as the stud 22 thereof slides in the slot'23 it forces the slide 6 outwardly with the carriage at the same time that the latter is moving relatively to the slide, all against the tension of thesprings" 9. The free end of the bell crank lever 20-21 traverses the camsurface 35 of the plate 34 during these movements and by the time the stud" 22 has approximated the end of the slot 23, the pointed abutment 36 at the end of this surface 35 snaps into a notch 37 in the end of the lever arm 21, as shown in Fig. 2. The outer wall38 of-- this notch 37 is longer than theinner wall 39 so that while the abutment 36 may sli over the latter, the lever 22 is not given su cient' further movement by reason of its engagement with a stop pin 4'1 on the under side of the carriage (Fig. 2) to permit the abutmentto clear the sition. while they in turn hold it temporarily ri id.

it will be further seen that the lever 13 constitutes a means for shifting thefulcrum 19 of the bell crank lever 20-21 on the bed 2 and hence for varying its throw,-the car- .first mentioned wall. The result is that the the carriage rearwardly.

The degree of pro ection of the slide 6, varies in a like manner and the focus of the lens is altered in" accordance with the reading of the scale characters 16. This change of focus being controllable within the desired limits by the movement of the slide 6 alone,

the carriage 26 may and does come to a stop at the same position on the slide each time,

the ultimate position of the lever 20-21 with reference to the slide and carriage being the same each time. The operator need therefore merely set the fulcrum controlling lever 13 at the desired focus, preliminarily, 26 out as far as it will go, camera, and thefocus will be true to the estimated distance. To release the carriage and return the parts, the operator need only pinch together the finger pieces 28 and start With this operation, the sliding plate 29 on which the movable finger piece is and a downwardly projecting ear 40 thereon engages the tip of the lever arm 21 and thrusts the lever aside just sufficiently to clear the notch 37 orirather the inner wall 39 thereof, from engagement with the abutment 36 on the carriage, the parts being allowed sufiicient play to permit this slight deflection. The carriage is then continued in to its folded position within the camera body but the springs 9 retract the slide 6 which is no longer held extended by the lever, 20 -21 andthis automatic movement of the-slide in turn rocks the said lever on its fulcrum 19 back to the position of Fig. 1 with the stud 22' again in the center of the slot 23.

Although the adjustment for focus is preferably arranged by moving the lever 13 to, an appropriate position before the lens car-' riageis drawn out, the focus may be changed afterward while the carriage and. slide remain locked together by moving the lever 13. This will be seen to .be possible from an inspection of Fig. 2 as, the stud 22 can move to. the right in the slot 23 although this movement is taken up as fast as it occurs by the springs 9' which retract the slide 6 to a corresponding extent. a

- I claim as my invention:

1.'In a camera focusing device, the combination with a bed and a slide movable thereon, of a lens carriage supported on .the slide, a spring for operating the slide in one direction and means for operating it in the other direction against the tension of the spring.

2. In a camera focusing device, the combination with a bed and a slide movable thereon, of a lens carriage movable on the slide,

and then pull the lens carriage as in a fixed focus carried moves inwardly means for operating the'latter in an outward direction and a spring for returning the slide.

3. In a camera focusing device, the combination with a bed and a slide movable there-' on, of a lens carriage movable on the slide and also adapted to operate the same in an outward direction and a spring for return-v ing the slide.

4. In a camera focusing device, the combination with a bed and a slide movable thereon, of a. lens carriage movable on the slide, and also adapted tmoperate the same in an outward. direction, means actuated by the carriage forlocking the slide in its outward position and a spring normally tending to return the slide. l

5. In a camera focusing device, the combination'with a bed and a slide movable thereon, of a lens carriage movable on'the slide and alsoadapted to operate the same in an outward direction, a spring normally tending to return the slide and a device actuated by the spring and slide for locking the carriage to the latter.

6. In a camera focusing device, the combination with a'bed and a slide movable thereon, of a lens carriage movable on the slide and also adapted to operate the same in an outward direction, a spring normally tending to return the slide and a device actuated by the carriage to engaging position and held in engagement by the tension of the spring and slide for locking the carriage on ghel latter and for locking the slide on the 7. In a camera focusing device, the combination with a bed and a slide movable thereon, of a lens carriage movable on the slide and a single member for both locking the carriage to the slide and for locking the slide in position on the bed.

8. In a camera focusing device, the combination with a bed and a slide movable thereon, of a lens carriage movable on the slide and also adapted to operate the latter on the bed and means for simultaneously locking the carriage to the slide and the slide to the ,bed in predetermined positions.

on, of a lens carriage movable on the slide and means actuated through the relative movement of the slide and carriage for moving the slide on the bed.

10. In' a camera focusing device, the combination with a bed and a slide movable thereon, of a lens carriage movable on the slide and means actuated through the relative movement .of the slide and carriage -for moving the slide on the bed, said means also constituting a docking device for securing the carriage to the bed at a predetermined polnt. t

11. In a camera focusing device, the combination with a bed and aslide movable thereon, of a lens carriage movable on the slide and a lever fulcrumed on the bed and actuated by the carriage for moving the slide on the bed through the movement of the carriage on the slide.

12. In a camera focusing device, the combination with a .bed and a slide movable thereon, of a lens carriage movable on the slide, a lever fulcrumed on the bed and actuated by the carriage for moving the slide on the bed through the movement of the carriage on the slide and means for shifting the fulcrum of the lever to varythe movement of the slide.

13'. In a'camera focusing device, the. combination with a bed and a slide thereon, of a justable to various fixed positions corre-.

sponding to the different focal distances of the lens.

14. In a camera focusing device, the combination with a bed, and a slide movable thereon, of a lens carriage movable on the slide, a. lever fulcrumed on the bed ands-etuated by the carriage for moving the slide on the bed, said lever having an interlocking engagement with the carriage, and means on the bed for shifting the fulcrum of the lever and thereby moving both the slide and carriage together, relatively to the bed.

15. In a camera focusing device, the combination with a bed and a slide movable thereon and provided with a transverse slot, of a lever comprising relatively offset arms, one'ofvwhich is fulcrumed on the bed and also comprising a connecting portion or stud slidable in the slot on the slide, and a lens carriage movable on the bed to engage the other arm of the lever'and thereby move the slide on the bed as'the stud on the lever traversesthe slot.

16. In a camera focusing device, the.com-- bination with a bed and a slide movable thereon and provided With a transverse slot, of a lever comprising relatively ofi'set arms, one of which is fulcrumed on the bed and also comprising a connecting portion or stud slidable in the slot on the slide, and means for shifting the lever fulcrum on the bed to vary the movement of the stud in the slot and hence the movement of the slide.

17 In a camera focusing device, the combination with a bed, and a slide movable thereon, and provided with av central open- I connecting portion or stud slidable in the slot on the slide and adapted to be inserted therein, initially, by thrusting the lever through the central opening, and a lens carriage movable on the bed to engage the other arm of the lever and thereby move the slide on the bed as the stud on the lever traverses the slot.

18. In a camera focusing device, the combinationwith. abed and a slide movable thereon, of a lens carriage movable on the slide, a lever fulcrumed on the bed and a cam surface on the carriage adapted to engage the lever for moving the slide on the,

bed through the movement of the carriage on the slide.

19. In a camera focusing device, the combination with a bed and a slide movable thereon, ofa lens carriage movable on the 'slide, a lever fulcrumed on the bed to engage the slide and having a notch therein and a cam surface on the carriage adapted to engage the lever, said cam surface terminating in an abutment adapted to engage the notch in the lever and to lock the.-.latter,. the care.

riage and the slide in a predetermined position.'

20. In a camera focusing device, the combination with a bed and a slide movable thereon, of a lens carriage movable on the slide, a lever fulcrumed on the bed to engage the slide and having a notch therein, said lever being arranged to be vibrated by the movement of the carriage on the slide, and an abutment on the carriage adapted to engage the notch in the lever and to lock the latter, the carriage and the slide in a predetermined position.

21. In a camera focusing device, the combination with a bed, and a slide movable thereon, of a lens carriage movable on the slide, a device actuated by such movement of the lens carriage for moving the slide on 

